Centrifuge



Sept. 9, 1952 HALL 2,609,617

CENTRIFUGE Filed Aug. 29, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR.

BY 2: QW/W Sept. 9, A L

CENTRIFUGE Filed Aug. 29, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 9, 1952 acoasn CENTRIFUGE Roland A. Hall, Dunw mly, Ga-,ass gnr t9 e essee Valley Auth ri y 7 Claims.v

"This invention relates to improvements in centrifuges adapted to applycentrifugal force to discrete lots of materials.

In many industrial processes it is desirable to centrifuge materials indiscrete lots to effect separation of components; This is usuallycarried out by supporting a number of discrete lots of materials insuitable containers around the circumference of acircle, rotatingthe-resulting assembly around the-center of the circle at slowlyincreasing speed for a-definite time, rotat ing at maximum speed, andthen gradually re ducing the speed of the assembly until it is broughtto rest. The resulting lots of centrifuged materials are then removed,are replaced by lots of =uncentrifugedmaterials, and the processisrepeated. This is essentially a batch-type operation. When it isdesired to. combine the centrifuging of discrete lots of materials withother steps to produce a-continuous-type process, d-ifiiculties arecausedby bunching or improper spacing of lots of materials at one pointin the process;

Among others, the frozen-food industry offers anumber of examples.ofsuch processes. It is frequently desirable to remove excesswater frompackages'or lots of food by centrifuging prior to freezing, and to passthecentrifuged lots or-packages in regularly spaced sequence into andthrough a freezing zone. Since conventional centrifuges deliver a numberof lots orpackages at .one time, these become bunched, and some means ofseparating 'theminto a regularly spaced sequence must'be provided.

In processes where it is desired to separate materials into layers bycentrifuging, it -is also importantthat a centrifuged package or lot ofmaterials be brought to rest very gradually in order to avoid stirringup and again mixing the resulting layers. When centrifuged lots areto besubsequently treated by continuous processes,

some means of regularly spacingthem must be provided.

It would be-very desirable to have a centrifuge which, while runningcontinuously, would deliver centrifuged lots of materials at regularlyspaced intervals ofv time, and which would'apply gradually increasingcentrifugal force of such lots of materials until amaximum is reachedand would gradually reduce centrifugal forceuntil the macentrifugedmaterials at -regularly spacedintervals' of time while in continuousoperation.

,Anotherlobj eat is to.;provide such a centrifuge in which eachindividual lotzof materiagls mayjpe subjected tocentrifug-al force,gradually increase" ingin. intensity to a maximum value, and sub,-sequently graduallydecreiiSing to substantiany zero.

Other objects and advantages will becomesape parent as this .disclosureproceeds.

I have found that these objects may-be ate tained in a centrifugeprovided with .a planetary head system. Such head system compri es-#central POWER-:dl'iVBIl shaf .a cro member at tached to and carriedbythe central shaft adja- Cent. to an end thereof; mechanical means forcontinuously, alternately, and graduallymoving;v a plurality ofcontainers for discrete lotsof ma? terials in balanced relationshipfrom. a dead center in line with the longitudinal axis ,of ,said

central shaft to a maximum distance from said dead center .positionandback'to saiddead center.

position, said mechanical means comprising; speed-reducing' earingdriven by power from said central shaft and a pluralityof container?carrying members, movable in-closedpathsaround centers of rotationspaced equidistant from said central shaft and passing through. theextended v longitudinalaxis of said central shaft,.aclillaated: by saidspeed-reducing gearing and: moyably;

carried by said cross member.

Th attached drawings illustrate diagrammatically one of the severalpossible :typesof ,con.-- structi-on which embody this invention.rFigureclz is a plan ofonatype of apparatus which lahave found to beparticularly *efficient in the frozene food industry, and-Figure 2 is avertical section. through the apparatus .ofzFigure -1 on the; 2-2 butdrawn on larger scale Like reference:

numerals indicate-like parts in both figures.

With reference thereto, the numeral 5 indi.-.

beams 30. A motor 6 and belt 1 are provided to drive shaft 5. Across'member 8 is firmly at.-

tached to and is carried by shaft 5, andkfor-the purpose of reducingweight may be constructed? as an open rigidframework as shown. Spindles9, 9 are carried 'by member -8' in sockets lfl, l0;

Spindles 9 are disposed 'equidi'stant from-each" other in a consecutiveseries around the circumference of a circlehaving its center atthe-extended longitudinal axis 'of shaft 5,;for the pur pose ofobtaining a balanced relationship.

Upon each of spindles 9 a head member--16 is rotatably mounted. Members13 are preferably1-' formed as an open framework,- as' showm sine thistype of construction furnishes the necessary strength in combinationwith low weight. At each corner of head member I3 an annular member I4is rigidly attached. Within each of members M a member I5 adapted todetachably hold lots or packages I6 of material to be centrifuged isrotatably mounted. Member I5 is constructed to fit within an annularportion of member l4 as a rotatable shaft fits within its bearing.Member l5 may be constructed, as shown, from two thin plates of metal orother suitable material disposed above and below member I4, heldtogether by bolts or rivets and provided with proiecting lips whichslide freely upon member I4. When this type of construction is used eachof members, I 5 must be provided with an opening of such size and shapeas to fit packages I6 tightly. In combination, members 14 and I5 form amechanical means for detachably and rotatably holding packages I6.

Head members I3 and members I4 and [5.

must be of such size and so disposed that packages l6 are heldequidistant from each other in consecutive series around thecircumferences of circles having their centers at the center of thecorresponding spindles, having radii equal to the perpendicular distancebetween the centers of the spindles and the longitudinal axis of thecentral shaft 5, and lying in a plane spaced outward from the end ofshaft 5 adjacent to the point of attachment of cross member 8.

A means for actuating reducing gearing is shown as stationary ring gearI! surrounding shaft 5 and supported by the housing 20. Ring gear Il maybe made integral with housing 20, welded thereto as shown by spot welds32, or any other suitable means for attachment may be used. Assembliesof reducing gearing and shafting I8 are attached to and carried by crossmembers 8 and are disposed to be driven by meshed contact with ring gearI1, and t drive gears I9 rigidly attached to head members I3.Non-interfering and balanced relationship between the head members I3and members I4 is secured and maintained by positioning gears [9 in meshwith corresponding gears of assemblies I8, and by positioning the latterin mesh with ear I1.

In operation for removing excess liquids from solids, porous orperforated containers IE filled with materials to be centrifuged areforced into openings in members [5 and are held there by friction. Motor6 is then started and shaft 5 rotates, carrying cross member 8 with it.Since ring gear I1 is held stationary by housing 20, assemblies I8 aredriven and in turn drive gears l9, thus causing head members If, torevolve slowly about spindles 9. As rotation continues, each containerwill in turn occupy a dead center position in line with the central axisof shaft 5. From this dead-center position each container will in turnbe continuously and gradually moved outward by the rotation of thecorresponding head member I3 to a maximum distance and slowly returnedto dead center. As each returns to dead center an operator may arrestits rotation around the center of shaft 5 by suitably applying some formof brake to member I5, since member I5 is rotatable within member I4.This brake will ordinarily be merely the hand of the operator or may beany of the familiar types of mechanical, magnetic, or air actuatedbrakes which it may be desired to use. A fresh package of material to becentri fugedisthen placed upon the package which 7 has been centrifugedand a downward pressure is exerted on it, thus forcing the centrifugedpackage on through member I5 and leaving a new package in its place. Itis not necessary to arrest the motionof members I4 and I5 around theaxis of spindles 3 since this motion is very slow, one revolution aboutspindles 8 occurring in the entire time required for centrifuging eachpackage "5.; The time required is dependent upon the type of materialand package being centrifuged and may often be in the range from 2 to 8minutes, but may also be either below or above this range. The builderwill choose assemblies of reducing gearing to fit the time of rotationabout spindles 9 to the requirements of the particular materials to becentrifuged. The centrifuged package then falls through the centralopening of hollow shaft 5 and may be caught upon a moving belt orconveyor if desired. The centrifuge thus delivers discrete lots ofcentrifuged materials singly and at regular intervals of time.

Many modifications in the apparatus and procedure described above willat once suggest themselves as equivalents of details described. Forinstance, it is obvious that shaft 5 may be made solid, provided thatthe containers are lifted from member I5 instead of being pushed throughit. Many equivalents of the motor and belt drive are known, such as amotor mounted diretly upon the shaft, a motor connected to the shaft bygears, chain belt, or other means. Cross member 8, instead of the openframework shown, may be a triangle, disc, spider," or other desiredshape. The number of spindles carried by the cross member may beincreased to 3, 4, or more, if desired. The spindles themselves may beany equivalent device for rotatably carrying one member upon another.

Head members I3 may be of any shape desired, and it is not intended toexclude the use of.

equivalent belts or conveyors actuated by an equivalent of reducing gearassembly I8 and moving in closed paths upon tracks which are stationarywith relation to the corresponding cross members 8. Members I5 may beordinary. centrifuge buckets, and member I4 may be arranged to swingupon a trunnion if desired.

It thus will be seen that the centrifuge of my invention may beconstructed in many modifications Without departing from its spirit andscope which are limited only by the subtended claims.

Having described my invention and explained its operation, I claim:

1. A centrifuge comprising in combination a central power-driven shaft;a cross member attached to and carried by said central shaft ad- Jacentto an end thereof; a plurality of spindles attached to and carried bysaid cross member, singly disposed equidistant from each other in aconsecutive seriesaround the circumference of a circle having its centerat the longitudinal axis of said central shaft; a plurality of headmembers, singly disposed upon and rotatably carried by each of saidspindles; a plurality of containers adapted to hold materials to becentrifuged; mechanical means, attached to and carried by each of saidhead members, for deto. said cross- :member; and mechanica .m.

driven y p wer fr m, aid entral sha t; for

rotating said head members aroundlt eir 9.011 responding spindlesinnon-interfering; relation? ship with each other at-such, speed thatone revolution around said spindles occurs in the time required forcentrifuging said materials.

2. A centrifuge comprising in combination a central power-driven shaft;across member at: tached to and carried by. said central shaft adjacentto an end thereof; a plurality of. spindles attached toand carried bysaid cross member, singly disposed equidistant fromeach otherci-n a;consecutive series. around the circumferenceof a circle having itscenter-=at;thelongitudinal axis of said central shaft; a plurality ofhead members, singly disposed upon and rotatably carried by each of saidspindles; a plurality of containers adaptedtohold materials to becentrifuged; mechanical means, attached to and carried by each of saidhead members, for deta lv olding. the plural ty. ofsaid contain rssingly disposedequidistant from each other in a consecutive seriesaround the circumference of. a circlehaving its center at the center ofthe corresponding spindle, having a radius equal to the perpendiculardistance between the center of said spindle and the longitudinal axis ofsaid central shaft, and lying in a plane spaced outward from the end ofsaid central shaft adjacent to said cross member; and mechanical means,comprising speed-reduction gearing driven by power from said centralshaft, for rotating said head members around their correspondingspindles in non-interfering relationship with each other at such speedthat one revolution around said spindles occurs in the time re quiredfor centrifuging said materials.

3. A centrifuge comprising in combination a central power-driven hollow,vertical shaft; a cross member attached to and carried by said centralshaft adjacent to an end thereof; a plurality of spindles attached toand carried by said cross member, singly disposed equidistant from eachother in a consecutive series around the circumference of a circlehaving its center at the longitudinal axis of said central shaft; aplurality of head members, singly disposed upon and'rotatably carried byeach of said spindles; a plurality of containers adapted to holdmaterials to be centrifuged; mechanical means, attached to and carriedby each of said head members, for detachably holding the plurality ofsaid containers singly disposed equidistant from each other in aconsecutive series around the circumference of a circle having itscenter at the center of the corresponding spindle, having a radius equalto the perpendicular distance between the center of said spindle and thelongitudinal axis of said central shaft, and lying in a plane spacedoutward from the end of said central shaft adjacent to said crossmember; and mechanical means, comprising speed-reduction gearing drivenby power from said central shaft, for rotating said head members aroundtheir corresponding spindles in non-interfering relationship with eachother at such speed that one revolution around said spindles occurs inthe time required for centrifuging said materials.

4. A centrifuge comprising in combination a central power-driven hollow,vertical shaft; a cross member attached to and carried'by said centralshaft adjacent to the upper end thereof;

a pl ralityegspindie lattached 5E0 and-carried ysaid ros member, sinly:djsposedr cuidistent: from; e ch other in a. consecutive seriesaround,

the circumference .of a circlev having; its center at the longitudinalaxis ofisaid, central shaft; -:a;

pluralityof; head members, singly; disposedupon; and rotatably carriedbycach of said spindlesi-i a plurality, of containers a.dap.t.ed. to.hold mate- V rials to be, centrifu ed; mechanical means,- at?) tachedto and carried by eachof-said head memeers, for detachably holding the.pluralitwofa said ,cqntainerssingly disposedcquidistant from each otherin-a consecutive series around-the circumference of a circle having itscenter lat1.-the centerofthe corresponding spindle, having aradius-equal to the perpendicular distance she-.- tween-the center ofsaid spindle and: the lon le.

tudinalpaxis of said central shaft, and'lyingc-ini a:plane above :theendof said central shaftad-- jacent to saidcross member; and/mechanical."

means, comprising speed-reduction gearing driven by powerfrom saidcentral shaft, forerbe tating said head members around theircornerspending spindles in.non-interfering:relationship. with each otherat such speed thatonerev'olu-1 tion around, said spindles occurs in the1 time required for centrifuging said materials.

5. A centrifuge comprising in combination a central power-driven shaft;a cross member attached to and carried by said central shaft adjacent toamend thereof; a plurality of spindles attached to and carried by saidcross member, singly disposed equidistant from each other in aconsecutive series around the circumference of a circle having itscenter at the longitudinal axis of said central shaft; a plurality ofhead members, singly disposed upon and rotatably carried by each of saidspindles; a plurality of containers adapted to hold materials to becentrifuged; mechanical means, attached to and carried by each of saidhead members, for detachably and rotatably holding the plurality of saidcontainers singly disposed equidistant from each other in a consecutiveseries around the circumference of a circle having its center at thecenter of the corresponding spindle, having a radius equal to theperpendicular distance between the center of said spindle and thelongitudinal axis of said central shaft, and lying in a plane spacedoutward from the end of said central shaft adjacent to said crossmember; and mechanical means, driven by power from said central shaft,for rotating said head members around their corresponding spindles innon-interfering relationship with each other at such speed that onerevolution around said spindles occurs in the time required forcentrifuging said materials.

6. A centrifuge comprising in combination a central power-driven hollow,vertical shaft; a cross member attached to and carried by said centralshaft adjacent to the upper end thereof; a plurality of spindlesattached to and carried by said cross member, singly disposedequidistant from each other in a consecutive series around thecircumference of a circle having its center at the longitudinal axis ofsaid central shaft; a plurality of head members, singly disposed uponand rotatably carried by each of said spindles; a plurality ofcontainers adapted to hold materials to be centrifuged; mechanicalmeans, attached to and carried by each of said head members, fordetachably and rotatably holding the plurality of said containers singlydisposed equidistant from each other in a consecutive series around thecircumference of a circle having its center at the center of thecorresponding spindle, having a radius equal to the perpendiculardistance between the center of said spindle and the longitudinal axis ofsaidspeed-reduction gearing driven by power from said central shaft, forrotating said head members around their corresponding spindles innoninterfering relationship with each other at such speed that onerevolution around said spindles occurs in the time required forcentrifuging said materials.

7. A centrifuge comprising in combination a central power-driven hollow,vertical shaftj a cross member attached to and carried by said centralshaft adjacent to the upper end thereof; two spindles attached to andcarried by -s'aid cross member, singly disposed diametricallyoppositeeach other in the circumference of a circle having its center at thelongitudinal axis of'said central shaft; two head members, singlydisposed upon and rotatably carried by each of said spindles; aplurality of containers adapted to hold materials to be centrifuged;mechanical means, attached to and carried by each of said head membersfor detachably and rotatably holding the plurality of said containerssingly disposed equidistant from each other in a consecutiveseries'around the circumference of a circle having its-center at thecenter of the corresponding spindle, having a radius equal to theperpendicular distance between the center of said spindle and thelongitudinal axis of said central shaft, and lying in a plane above theend of said central shaft adjacent to said cross member; and mechanicalmeans, comprising speedreduction gearing driven by power from saidcentral shaft, for rotating said head members around their correspondingspindles in non-interfering relationship with each other at such speedthat one revolution around said spindles occurs in the time required forcentrifuging said materials.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date ROLAND A. HALL.

Burlingame July 10, 1894

